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Biotech layoffs

Announced layoffs across biotech and life sciences, one row each, with the filing or the report we read it in. Every row is checked by a person before it appears here.

Announced layoffs by month

789 events on record since January 2023, 415 with no figure.

2026 so far

At least 13,439 roles

105 layoffs

Other years

2025
At least 22,062 roles 266 layoffs, full year
2024
At least 10,472 roles 233 layoffs, full year
2023
At least 6,742 roles 185 layoffs, full year
  • Confirmed
  • Rumoured
  • Layoffs with no figure
Show these figures as a table
Announced layoffs by month, January 2023 to October 2026, with the events behind each figure.
Month Roles reported Confirmed Rumoured Events recorded
At least 329 roles At least 329 confirmed No rumoured events 14 events, 12 confirmed with no figure, largest 300 roles. No figure: Finch Therapeutics, 95% of staff; Cyteir Therapeutics, 70% of staff; Quince Therapeutics, 47% of staff; and 9 more
At least 400 roles At least 400 confirmed No rumoured events 24 events, 16 confirmed with no figure, largest 111 roles. No figure: Aptinyx, 60% of staff; Jounce Therapeutics, 57% of staff; Apexigen, 55% of staff; and 13 more
At least 204 roles At least 204 confirmed No rumoured events 18 events, 12 confirmed with no figure, largest 89 roles. No figure: Neoleukin Therapeutics, 70% of staff; Applied Molecular Transport, 57% of staff; Molecular Templates, 50% of staff; and 9 more
At least 275 roles At least 275 confirmed No rumoured events 11 events, 8 confirmed with no figure, largest 120 roles. No figure: Nektar Therapeutics, 60% of staff; Freeline Therapeutics, 30% of staff; Aeglea BioTherapeutics, size not given; and 5 more
At least 841 roles At least 841 confirmed No rumoured events 14 events, 10 confirmed with no figure, largest 500 roles. No figure: Rain Oncology, 65% of staff; Frequency Therapeutics, 55% of staff; GreenLight Biosciences, 51% of staff; and 7 more
At least 67 roles At least 55 confirmed 12 rumoured 10 events, 1 rumoured, 8 confirmed with no figure, largest 55 roles. No figure: Surface Oncology, 50% of staff; Molecular Templates, 44% of staff; Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, 25% of staff; and 5 more
At least 1,245 roles At least 1,245 confirmed No rumoured events 15 events, 11 confirmed with no figure, largest 1,000 roles. No figure: Homology Medicines, 87% of staff; Pieris Pharmaceuticals, 70% of staff; Avrobio, 50% of staff; and 8 more
At least 726 roles At least 726 confirmed No rumoured figure 21 events, 13 confirmed with no figure, 2 rumoured with no figure, largest 225 roles. No figure: Celsius Therapeutics, 75% of staff; Aravive, 70% of staff; Galera Therapeutics, 70% of staff; and 12 more
At least 268 roles At least 268 confirmed No rumoured events 8 events, 4 confirmed with no figure, largest 176 roles. No figure: Kinnate Biopharma, 70% of staff; PTC Therapeutics, 25% of staff; AM-Pharma, size not given; and 1 more
At least 1,205 roles At least 1,205 confirmed No rumoured events 16 events, 8 confirmed with no figure, largest 350 roles. No figure: Kezar Life Sciences, 41% of staff; Syros Pharmaceuticals, 35% of staff; BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, 30% of staff; and 5 more
At least 918 roles At least 868 confirmed 50 rumoured 20 events, 1 rumoured, 14 confirmed with no figure, largest 500 roles. No figure: SQZ Biotechnologies, 80% of staff; Candel Therapeutics, 50% of staff; Atreca, 40% of staff; and 11 more
At least 264 roles At least 264 confirmed No rumoured events 14 events, 10 confirmed with no figure, largest 134 roles. No figure: Reneo Pharmaceuticals, 70% of staff; Aclaris Therapeutics, 46% of staff; Altamira Therapeutics, 25% of staff; and 7 more
At least 935 roles At least 935 confirmed No rumoured figure 27 events, 12 confirmed with no figure, 1 rumoured with no figure, largest 285 roles. No figure: AlloVir, 95% of staff; Kinnate Biopharma, 56% of staff; Affimed, 50% of staff; and 10 more
At least 692 roles At least 692 confirmed No rumoured figure 21 events, 9 confirmed with no figure, 2 rumoured with no figure, largest 213 roles. No figure: Gritstone bio, 40% of staff; Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, 25% of staff; Adaptive Biotechnologies, 6.7% of staff; and 8 more
At least 1,403 roles At least 1,403 confirmed No rumoured events 19 events, 10 confirmed with no figure, largest 446 roles. No figure: NextCure, 37% of staff; Omega Therapeutics, 35% of staff; Coherus BioSciences, 30% of staff; and 7 more
At least 948 roles At least 948 confirmed No rumoured events 18 events, 9 confirmed with no figure, largest 436 roles. No figure: Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, 70% of staff; Ultimovacs, 40% of staff; BenevolentAI, 30% of staff; and 6 more
At least 1,428 roles At least 1,428 confirmed No rumoured events 20 events, 11 confirmed with no figure, largest 641 roles. No figure: Akari Therapeutics, 67% of staff; Trevena, 35% of staff; Tenaya Therapeutics, 22% of staff; and 8 more
At least 115 roles At least 115 confirmed No rumoured events 10 events, 5 confirmed with no figure, largest 39 roles. No figure: Cara Therapeutics, 70% of staff; Barinthus Biotherapeutics, 25% of staff; Organon, 2% of staff; and 2 more
At least 785 roles At least 785 confirmed No rumoured figure 22 events, 12 confirmed with no figure, 1 rumoured with no figure, largest 220 roles. No figure: GlycoMimetics, 80% of staff; FibroGen, 75% of staff; CureVac, 30% of staff; and 10 more
At least 1,846 roles At least 1,846 confirmed No rumoured events 24 events, 10 confirmed with no figure, largest 400 roles. No figure: AN2 Therapeutics, 50% of staff; Arbutus Biopharma, 40% of staff; Repare Therapeutics, 25% of staff; and 7 more
At least 380 roles At least 380 confirmed No rumoured events 14 events, 4 confirmed with no figure, largest 92 roles. No figure: Athira Pharma, 70% of staff; Charles River Laboratories, 3% of staff; Astellas, size not given; and 1 more
At least 614 roles At least 614 confirmed No rumoured events 19 events, 9 confirmed with no figure, largest 231 roles. No figure: Turnstone Biologics, 60% of staff; Shattuck Labs, 40% of staff; Spero Therapeutics, 39% of staff; and 6 more
At least 794 roles At least 794 confirmed No rumoured events 21 events, 14 confirmed with no figure, largest 223 roles. No figure: Kronos Bio, 83% of staff; Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, 60% of staff; Sensei Biotherapeutics, 46% of staff; and 11 more
At least 532 roles At least 532 confirmed No rumoured events 18 events, 12 confirmed with no figure, largest 330 roles. No figure: Alligator Bioscience, 70% of staff; Editas Medicine, 65% of staff; Cellectar Biosciences, 60% of staff; and 9 more
At least 961 roles At least 961 confirmed No rumoured events 24 events, 16 confirmed with no figure, largest 300 roles. No figure: Allakos, 75% of staff; Repare Therapeutics, 75% of staff; Barinthus Biotherapeutics, 65% of staff; and 13 more
At least 390 roles At least 390 confirmed No rumoured events 21 events, 15 confirmed with no figure, largest 121 roles. No figure: Inventiva, 50% of staff; Third Harmonic Bio, 50% of staff; LAVA Therapeutics, 30% of staff; and 12 more
At least 1,685 roles At least 1,685 confirmed No rumoured events 30 events, 13 confirmed with no figure, largest 427 roles. No figure: Elevation Oncology, 70% of staff; Arbutus Biopharma, 57% of staff; ALX Oncology, 30% of staff; and 10 more
At least 1,158 roles At least 1,158 confirmed No rumoured events 22 events, 6 confirmed with no figure, largest 337 roles. No figure: Spruce Biosciences, 55% of staff; Entrada Therapeutics, 20% of staff; Octagon Therapeutics, size not given; and 3 more
At least 1,701 roles At least 1,701 confirmed No rumoured figure 30 events, 13 confirmed with no figure, 1 rumoured with no figure, largest 516 roles. No figure: IGM Biosciences, 80% of staff; Mersana Therapeutics, 55% of staff; Keros Therapeutics, 45% of staff; and 11 more
At least 1,069 roles At least 1,069 confirmed No rumoured events 18 events, 7 confirmed with no figure, largest 338 roles. No figure: Leap Therapeutics, 75% of staff; ADC Therapeutics, 30% of staff; Recursion Pharmaceuticals, 20% of staff; and 4 more
At least 1,200 roles At least 1,200 confirmed No rumoured events 23 events, 11 confirmed with no figure, largest 500 roles. No figure: Adaptimmune Therapeutics, 62% of staff; Adicet Bio, 30% of staff; 4D Molecular Therapeutics, 25% of staff; and 8 more
At least 922 roles At least 922 confirmed No rumoured figure 27 events, 11 confirmed with no figure, 5 rumoured with no figure, largest 353 roles. No figure: Generation Bio, 90% of staff; Dewpoint Therapeutics, 70% of staff; Bicycle Therapeutics, 25% of staff; and 13 more
At least 9,748 roles At least 9,748 confirmed No rumoured events 23 events, 10 confirmed with no figure, largest 9,000 roles. No figure: Heidelberg Pharma, 75% of staff; Arsenal Biosciences, 50% of staff; X4 Pharmaceuticals, 50% of staff; and 7 more
At least 1,177 roles At least 1,177 confirmed No rumoured events 16 events, 5 confirmed with no figure, largest 365 roles. No figure: Sensei Biotherapeutics, 65% of staff; Atara Biotherapeutics, 29% of staff; Pharming Group, 20% of staff; and 2 more
At least 1,738 roles At least 1,638 confirmed 100 rumoured 24 events, 1 rumoured, 8 confirmed with no figure, largest 550 roles. No figure: Applied Therapeutics, 46% of staff; Korro Bio, 34% of staff; Metagenomi, 25% of staff; and 5 more
At least 313 roles At least 313 confirmed No rumoured figure 8 events, 4 confirmed with no figure, 1 rumoured with no figure, largest 146 roles. No figure: Areteia Therapeutics, size not given; BiomX, size not given; Geron, size not given; and 2 more
At least 1,055 roles At least 1,055 confirmed No rumoured figure 16 events, 7 confirmed with no figure, 1 rumoured with no figure, largest 423 roles. No figure: InflaRx, 30% of staff; Bitterroot Bio, size not given; EMD Serono, size not given; and 5 more
At least 793 roles At least 793 confirmed No rumoured events 12 events, 4 confirmed with no figure, largest 247 roles. No figure: Disc Medicine, 20% of staff; Concerto Biosciences, size not given; GSK, size not given; and 1 more
At least 5,199 roles At least 5,199 confirmed No rumoured figure 18 events, 9 confirmed with no figure, 1 rumoured with no figure, largest 4,500 roles. No figure: BioAtla, 70% of staff; Theravance Biopharma, 50% of staff; Bicycle Therapeutics, 30% of staff; and 7 more
At least 757 roles At least 757 confirmed No rumoured events 9 events, 3 confirmed with no figure, largest 206 roles. No figure: Passage Bio, 75% of staff; Click Therapeutics, 27% of staff; Autolus Therapeutics, 13% of staff
At least 2,270 roles At least 2,270 confirmed No rumoured events 7 events, 1 confirmed with no figure, largest 1,800 roles. No figure: Valneva, size not given
At least 616 roles At least 616 confirmed No rumoured events 11 events, 4 confirmed with no figure, largest 250 roles. No figure: Boundless Bio, 75% of staff; Neumora Therapeutics, 35% of staff; ADC Therapeutics, 17% of staff; and 1 more
At least 387 roles At least 387 confirmed No rumoured events 4 events, 1 confirmed with no figure, largest 322 roles. No figure: Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals, size not given
At least 786 roles At least 786 confirmed No rumoured events 14 events, 6 confirmed with no figure, largest 229 roles. No figure: Lisata Therapeutics, 72% of staff; aTyr Pharma, 60% of staff; PDS Biotechnology, 36% of staff; and 3 more
At least 1,576 roles At least 1,576 confirmed No rumoured events 12 events, 1 confirmed with no figure, largest 650 roles. No figure: Sionna Therapeutics, 46% of staff
Not known so far this month No confirmed figure No rumoured events 2 events, 2 confirmed with no figure. No figure: Foghorn Therapeutics, 40% of staff; Adecto Pharmaceuticals, size not given
Layoff events on record, with what we know of each and where we read it.
Company What happened Roles reported Share of staff Where Announced Sources
Adecto Pharmaceuticals
Funding

Adecto Pharmaceuticals announced that it had closed after being unable to secure sufficient financing in a difficult funding environment.

 Not known Not known Boston, United States
1 source for Adecto Pharmaceuticals
Foghorn Therapeutics
Pipeline setback

Foghorn Therapeutics announced an approximately 40% workforce reduction after discontinuing FHD-909 and ending a Lilly collaboration following disappointing early clinical results.

 Not known 40% Company-wide
3 sources for Foghorn Therapeutics
Novo Nordisk
Restructuring

Novo Nordisk disclosed 108 job cuts tied to its Plainsboro U.S. headquarters, effective December 31, while redesigning parts of its U.S. sales organization.

 108 Not known U.S. headquarters, Plainsboro, United States
2 sources for Novo Nordisk
Enanta Pharmaceuticals
Restructuring

Enanta Pharmaceuticals confirmed a 37-person workforce reduction across departments after reviewing the resources needed for its current antiviral and immunology priorities.

 37 Not known Company-wide
1 source for Enanta Pharmaceuticals
BioMarin Pharmaceutical
Restructuring

BioMarin filed a California WARN notice for 117 permanent layoffs at its Novato site as part of a consolidation of its local and global footprint.

 117 Not known 105 Digital Drive, Novato, United States
3 sources for BioMarin Pharmaceutical
Adagio Medical Holdings
Funding

Adagio Medical Holdings adopted a cost-reduction plan while exploring strategic alternatives, cutting 25 of its 43 full-time employees effective September 23, 2026.

 25 58.1% Laguna Hills, United States
2 sources for Adagio Medical Holdings
Bristol Myers Squibb
Restructuring

Bristol Myers Squibb disclosed a third New Jersey WARN round in 2026, affecting 265 employees tied to its Princeton headquarters from December 2026 through May 2027.

 265 Not known Corporate headquarters, Princeton, United States
2 sources for Bristol Myers Squibb
Johnson & Johnson Services
Restructuring

Johnson & Johnson Services disclosed a separate New Brunswick WARN round affecting 87 employees, effective December 18.

 87 Not known New Brunswick operations, New Brunswick, United States
3 sources for Johnson & Johnson Services
Sionna Therapeutics
Pipeline setback

Sionna Therapeutics publicly announced a 46% workforce reduction while refocusing resources on its SION-451 plus SION-2222 program after disappointing SION-719 results.

 Not known 46% Waltham, United States
3 sources for Sionna Therapeutics
DesigneRX Pharmaceuticals
Site closure

DesigneRX Pharmaceuticals filed a second California WARN notice for a permanent closure affecting 7 additional positions at its Vacaville site, effective November 15.

 7 Not known 4941 Allison Parkway, Suite B, Vacaville, United States
2 sources for DesigneRX Pharmaceuticals
GSK
Site closure

GSK announced plans to close its Dresden vaccine manufacturing site and consolidate influenza-vaccine production in Canada, affecting approximately 650 employees.

 650 Not known Dresden vaccine manufacturing site, Dresden, Germany
3 sources for GSK
Merck
Restructuring

Merck disclosed another Rahway WARN round affecting 54 employees, with separations on December 11 and January 4.

 54 Not known Rahway headquarters, Rahway, United States
2 sources for Merck
TScan Therapeutics
Funding

TScan Therapeutics announced a strategic reorganization eliminating approximately 75% of its workforce while focusing resources on in-vivo programs and conserving capital.

 96 Not known Waltham, United States
3 sources for TScan Therapeutics
Novartis
Site closure

Novartis said planned changes at its Kleinbasel operations could affect around 130 jobs as it relocates laboratory activities and plans to stop small-volume biologics production there.

 130 Not known Kleinbasel, Basel, Switzerland
3 sources for Novartis
TELA Bio
Restructuring

TELA Bio announced a targeted workforce reduction of approximately 20% as part of a broader cost-reduction initiative intended to lower operating expenses and preserve capital.

 41 20.4% Company-wide
2 sources for TELA Bio
ArsenalBio
Restructuring

ArsenalBio announced a strategic shift toward in-vivo CAR-T programs and a substantial workforce reduction; a company spokesperson confirmed 99 roles across its teams and locations.

 99 Not known South San Francisco + Hayward, United States
3 sources for ArsenalBio
Arsenal Biosciences
Restructuring

Arsenal Biosciences announced a strategic pivot toward in vivo CAR-T and laid off 99 employees across teams, functions and locations.

 99 Not known South San Francisco, United States
2 sources for Arsenal Biosciences
PDS Biotechnology
Restructuring

PDS Biotechnology disclosed a reduction in force affecting approximately 36% of its workforce as it concentrated resources on PDS0301.

 Not known 36% Company-wide
2 sources for PDS Biotechnology
Cellares

Cellares reduced staffing across its South San Francisco headquarters and Bridgewater, New Jersey smart factory after Bristol Myers Squibb ended a major cell-therapy manufacturing partnership.

 168 Not known 1100 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco + Bridgewater smart factory, United States
3 sources for Cellares
Kolon TissueGene
Pipeline setback

Kolon TissueGene filed a Maryland mass-layoff notice for 37 employees at its Rockville site, effective August 31, after a late-stage clinical setback prompted a corporate realignment.

 37 Not known 9713 Key West Avenue, Rockville, United States
2 sources for Kolon TissueGene
EMD Serono Research Development Institute
Restructuring

EMD Serono filed a Massachusetts WARN notice for 20 layoffs at its Billerica research site, with the positions scheduled to be eliminated beginning in October.

 20 Not known Billerica R&D site, Billerica, United States
3 sources for EMD Serono Research Development Institute
Aura Biosciences
Restructuring

Aura Biosciences announced an organizational realignment focused on ocular oncology, including a workforce reduction of approximately 20%.

 Not known 20% Boston, United States
3 sources for Aura Biosciences
Arpeggio Biosciences
Pipeline setback

Arpeggio Biosciences' CEO announced that the company was winding down after its lead NRF2 degrader program could not separate efficacy from an off-target liability.

 Not known Not known Company-wide
2 sources for Arpeggio Biosciences
Ensoma
Restructuring

Ensoma confirmed a second workforce reduction while concentrating resources on EN-374 and pausing other preclinical programs.

 Not known Not known Boston, United States
2 sources for Ensoma
Blueprint Medicines
Merger or acquisition

Blueprint Medicines, now part of Sanofi, filed a Massachusetts WARN notice affecting 229 employees as Sanofi integrated the acquired company and consolidated Cambridge operations.

 229 Not known Blueprint Medicines Cambridge operations, Cambridge, United States
3 sources for Blueprint Medicines

About this record

Reading the chart

  • Confirmed. The lower part of a column. The company or a public filing confirmed it.
  • Rumoured. The upper part. A publication reported it and the company has not confirmed it.
  • Layoffs with no figure. A number on a column counts that month's layoffs with no figure, often because only a share of staff was given. The real total is higher; with no column under it, it is not known, not nought.

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